Southern Baptists have made history by electing their first African-American president: Reverend Fred Luter. The 16-million member organization is the second-largest denomination in the U-S-- behind only the Catholic Church. It was less than 20 years ago when the Southern Baptist Convention officially apologized for condoning and perpetuating racism. The Organization was formed in 1845 out of a split with northern Baptists over the right to own slaves. And many in the denomination supported segregation throughout the last century. After the election, Reverend Luter talked about taking the convention forward…..

AND he dove right in to the politically sensitive issue of marriage….

The defense has rested its case in the trial of Jerry Sandusky, who has been facing accusations of sex abuse that could put him in jail for the rest of his life. His lawyers wrapped up their case without calling the former Penn State assistant football coach to the stand. The trial has lasted seven days, with jurors hearing from eight men — now 18 to 28 — who testified that the former coach sexually assaulted them after they met him through the charity he founded. Sandusky is charged with 51 criminal counts for alleged abuse of 10 boys over 15 years. Closing arguments are set for today.

Negotiators for Iran and six world powers have been in Moscow, discussing Iran's nuclear program.As The State Department fielded questions about Iran assisting Venezuela. Spokesperson Victoria Nuland also mentioned about monitoring the situation…..

An update on Pastor Youcef Nadharkani imprisoned in Iran for over three years for apostasy and converting people to Christianity. The U.S. Senate's Committee of Foreign Relations will review a resolution that seeks to free him while also encouraging Iran to monitor its human rights abuses more closely, especially in cases of religious freedom. The American Center for Law and Justice commended the Senate resolution's timing given that Pastor Youcef's attorney is facing 9 years in jail himself, without trial, for "acting against the national security."

A media watchdog has flagged a Palestinian children's TV program it says features a young girl reciting a poem where she refers to Christians and Jews as "cowardly and despised" and calls for Muslims to rise up and attack against their enemies with stones. Palestinian Media Watch has a post on its website titled "PA children taught to hate Jews and Christians." In another clip, the same girl is shown saying, "Our enemy, Zion, is Satan with a tail," with the hosts cheering . Palestinian Media Watch claims that Palestinian, State-controlled media often demonize the West and religions like Christianity and Judaism, and allegedly targets children from an early age in its teachings.

World Relief and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) are commemorated World Refugee Day yesterday. World Relief was founded by the National Association of Evangelicals. The United Nations established June 20 as World Refugee Day to honor those who flee their homelands under threat of violence or persecution. Currently, 15.2 million refugees worldwide have fled their country. In 2011 alone, 800,000 were added to that number – a record for this century.